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The basics:

• Newark Liberty International Airport‘s new $2.7 billion Terminal A recently received two prestigious recognitions, including a five-star rating and the title of the world’s best new airport terminal.
• The project represents the Port Authority’s largest single investment in New Jersey and the state’s largest design-build project.
• What’s next? Plans include the transformation of Terminals B and C, along with the replacement of AirTrain Newark, enhanced public transit access and more.

In recent weeks, preeminent global airport evaluation firm Skytrax has twice recognized the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport. The first came in March, with its highest rating, five stars, following a detailed audit of the terminal’s facilities, operations and customer service in 2023. The second was announced in April, at the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards – aviation’s version of the Oscars – at the Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference in Frankfurt, Germany, by naming Terminal A as the world’s best new airport terminal.

“From the distinctly Jersey aesthetic to the first-rate amenities and home-grown attractions, Terminal A is a point of pride for the Garden State that the whole world now gets to enjoy,” said Gov. Phil Murphy of the honors bestowed upon the $2.7 billion, 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility.

The latter award is considered a global benchmark of airport facility excellence. It is based on feedback from passengers worldwide that evaluated traveler experiences pertaining to airport facilities, staff service and customer experience — ranging from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration through departure at the gate. Newark Terminal A is the second straight Port Authority of New York & New Jersey facility to take home the prestigious honor. LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B won the award in 2023.

“This award covers new airport terminals that have opened in the previous 18 months of the 2024 World Airport Awards, and covers the fully range of airport facilities, staff services, and customer experience evaluation,” said Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. “It is pleasing to see such a high standard being delivered here at Terminal A, which is very worthy of their award as the world’s best new airport terminal.”

On the five-star rating, Plaisted stressed how rare the rating is achieved.

“This five-star airport terminal rating is a fabulous achievement for Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, being just one of 22 airports and terminals worldwide and one of only three in North America to achieve our highest five-star rating,” said Plaisted. “Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport provides an excellent range of passenger facilities, easy customer wayfinding, excellent signage and high standards of staff service. The outstanding multimedia features offer a unique, differentiating factor here at Terminal A.”

‘Best-in-class standards’

The two Skytrax honors add to a growing collection of awards for the new Terminal A, which also won a 2023 UNESCO Prix Versailles Special Prize for its exterior; LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council; and 2023 Project of the Year from the American Society of Civil Engineers in New Jersey.

In its first year of operation, after replacing the outdated, 50-year-old former Terminal A, the terminal served 15 million passengers – greatly outperforming yearly totals from its predecessor.

It also represents the Port Authority’s largest single investment in New Jersey and the state’s largest design-build project. The work was overseen as part of a joint venture by Parsons and Tutor Perini.

“We believe strongly that our region deserves nothing but the best, and Newark Liberty has delivered the best new facility in the world for the State of New Jersey,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “As a native New Jerseyan, I am incredibly proud that passengers selected Terminal A for this global recognition, and I was honored to join the distinguished Port Authority team who accepted Newark Liberty’s award for the world’s best new airport terminal from Skytrax last week in Germany.”

“From Newark to LaGuardia, and from worst to best, our $30 billion redevelopment of the New York-New Jersey area’s major airports has truly transformed air travel for the millions of people who use our airports,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Our work at the airports reflect best-in-class standards, and we are extremely gratified by the international aviation industry’s recognition that this region is home to two of the world’s best new airport terminals.”

“This is a tremendously well-deserved honor for the flagship of the Port Authority’s ongoing renaissance at Newark Liberty International Airport,” said Murphy.

“We are so incredibly proud of this milestone for Terminal A and for Munich Airport NJ,” said Michael Kunz, CEO of Munich Airport NJ LLC, operator of Newark Terminal A and a subsidiary of Munich Airport International GmbH. “It is the pinnacle of achievement in both customer experience and the result of years of planning and tireless dedication to the program. This recognition comes with a solemn responsibility associated with maintaining a world-class standard of customer service and terminal operations.”

“Five stars are reserved for the best of the best – but we expected nothing less for Newark’s Terminal A,” said O’Toole. “We set out to raise the bar with Terminal A, from its soaring architecture to its streamlined design to its engaging local art. This stellar evaluation from the aviation industry’s preeminent rating organization proves we’ve accomplished exactly that – giving New Jersey a magnificent gateway that is taking its rightful place among the world’s best.”

“This rating from Skytrax puts Newark’s Terminal A in rarified air,” said Cotton. “We’re delivering world-class facilities that befit this world-class region, and we’re proud to add this Skytrax rating as the latest validation of our effort.”

“This five-star rating places Newark Terminal A in a very exclusive North American club,” said Kunz. “I would like to express my sincere thanks for the tireless support of our MANJ family – and the thousands of dedicated team members who strive each day to make Newark Terminal A a very special place to travel through.”

Jersey pride on display

To mark these honors, a news conference and ceremony was held at the end of April in the Terminal A arrivals area – by the baggage claim, and in front of the giant “NJ” that greets travelers.

The speakers at that event cited the Jersey pride on display throughout the facility – from the New Jersey-flavored dining and shopping options to the local artwork and signage as well as distinct features like the children’s play area, sensory room and more.

“We had a plan that we were going to redo this airport – with the vision, the Port Authority vision,” said O’Toole, reflecting on the groundbreaking and topping out ceremonies – and the journey to this point. “We kind of had a moment – what’s it going to be like? Is it going to be real? Is it going to make the Port Authority proud? Is it going to make New Jersey proud?”

He noted that he and other officials heard throughout the process that it had to feel like Jersey – nodding to Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, D-29th District, a staunch supporter of the project who was on hand for the ceremony.

“Today is truly a reflection of ‘show them Newark, show them Elizabeth, show them the Garden State,’” said Ruiz. “And, of course, we would get the gold medal. We’ve known this in the state all the time – how infuriating for some of us to have walked through Newark Liberty International Airport and not be able to pick up one product that said that you were in the Garden State.”

Ruiz pointed to the inclusion of the local vendors and art – celebrating New Jersey – as a big part of the new terminal’s success. “Now the entire world gets to see how great we are in this Garden State,” said Ruiz.

“This international recognition means the world to this region, to New Jersey, and to communities like the City of Elizabeth that contribute to the airport every single day,” said Elizabeth Mayor and Port Authority Commissioner Christian Bollwage.

Cotton described the terminal as a game-changer and the ceremony as a great day for the region, the state, the airport and the Port Authority. “Because it celebrates what we are about – collectively,” said Cotton. “We are about being the best.”

“Here’s the good news – we have set a standard: two five-star standards [with LaGuardia],” said O’Toole. “Now on to Terminal B. Now on to the Master Plan. This is our standard.”

Looking ahead

So, what’s next? A vision plan is being overseen by Arup – one of the world’s top aviation planning and design firms – in partnership with leading architecture firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill. The EWR Vision Plan serves as a framework for development through 2065 — incorporating plans for long-term economic growth, sustainability projects, and multimodal access to the airport for both work and travel.

That reimagining of the airport includes the eventual transformations of Terminals B and C, as well as a project to replace AirTrain Newark with a modern, reliable and automated people mover train system; increasing public transit access through the EWR Station Access Project; and more. Redevelopment work has also included the Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility combined with the Port Authority-funded public parking garage.

Reporters asked officials about the timing of the next terminal transformations. “We just completed the Newark Vision, which talks about how that terminal [B] is going to fit in. Now, we just have to find the money and find the will to get it going,” said Port Authority Chief Operating Officer James Heitmann. “I feel like I was 10 years ago – when we were talking about Terminal A; feels like it’s impossible. We’re going to get it moving as soon as we can.”

“We’re getting it done,” said O’Toole. “Terminal B will get done.”

After the event, NJBIZ caught up with O’Toole to discuss the awards, the journey, and more on the standard Terminal A has set as the Port Authority moves forward on these next projects.

“It just gives us a sense of great pride,” O’Toole said. “The people of New Jersey deserve this. The Port Authority employees deserve this. It shows you what we are capable of doing when we all work in the same direction.”

O’Toole said this project reflects the things that the Port Authority has been doing for more than a century – and shows that it can run with the very best. The chairman stressed how vital collaboration was to get this project done and have the new Terminal A operating at this award-winning level.

“You had to collaborate with the general contractors, the laborers – they were all magnificent. The Port Authority employees,” said O’Toole, noting the employees’ efforts round-the-clock. “This was not an easy ride, especially with COVID. It was hard. Changes had to be made. We had to do some audibles …. But at the end of the day, what you’re looking at is magnificent. And this has really set a high standard for us to strive for in the future.”

What part of the new terminal does O’Toole like the most or gives him the most pride?

“Right after you get through security, you go on the escalators, and you descend down – and you have these pillars with these informational things coming out. And you look around and there’s such a completeness about it. There’s such a beautifulness to it,” O’Toole explained. “You go into the bathrooms. And it’s hard to say this – but there’s a sense of place there. It has some Jersey feel – whether it’s the woods or the sand or the ocean. This whole place is a reflection of who New Jersey is and what New Jersey is – and I think we’ve captured it.”